Anthurium plant named ‘ANTHFUNCNI’

ABSTRACT

A new  Anthurium  plant named ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ particularly distinguished by having concave, weakly blistered and medium glossy, deep red, cordate, and durable spathes that retain the original color for a very long period of time, green and ovate-cordate, concave, durable leaves, white spadices with yellow-green tips, early and rich flowering continuously throughout the year, and a plant height of 39.0 cm to 44.0 cm is disclosed.

Genus and species: Anthurium andraeanum L.

Variety denomination: ‘ANTHFUNCNI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Anthurium,botanically known as Anthurium andraeanum L., and hereinafter referredto by the variety name ‘ANTHFUNCNI’. The new Anthurium plant is aproduct of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor inBleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program wasto create a new plant with a height of 39.0 cm to 44.0 cm havingconcave, weakly blistered and medium glossy, deep red, cordate, anddurable spathes.

The new variety originated from a cross-pollination made in July 2009 inBleiswijk, the Netherlands. The female parent was an orange Anthuriumpot plant designated ‘17519-08’ (unpatented), and the male parent was ared Anthurium pot plant designated ‘14999-1597’ (unpatented).

A single plant was selected from the progeny of the stated cross in July2011. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by tissue culture in 2016in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new varietyreproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights for this variety have been applied for inthe European Union on Nov. 12, 2019 (Application no. 2019/2952), byApplicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from theinventor. ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ has not been made publicly available or soldanywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year orless before the effective filing date of this claimed invention byApplicant who obtained ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands:

-   -   1) Concave, weakly blistered and medium glossy, deep red, and        cordate spathes;    -   2) White spadices with yellow-green tips;    -   3) Green, ovate-cordate leaves;    -   4) Spathes that are positioned far above the leaves; and    -   5) Leaves with a concave shape in cross section of middle zone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Anthurium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliageof the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a44-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands,in May 2021. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, andfoliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature spathe.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the upper leaf blade surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘ANTHFUNCNI’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, the Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 44-week-oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 14-centimeter(diameter) pots and grown in a glass greenhouse between 19° C. and 24°C. Observations were made in May 2021. Color readings were taken under5000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarilyto The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2015).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Araceae.        -   Botanical.—Anthurium andraeanum L.        -   Common name.—Anthurium.        -   Denomination.—‘ANTHFUNCNI’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Anthurium plant ‘17519-08’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Anthurium plant ‘14999-1597’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Tissue culture.        -   Root description.—Fleshy-creamy (RHS 158C) colored roots            with a touch of yellowish-pink (RHS 37B) and small hairy            lateral roots having yellow (RHS 12A) colored root tips.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—42 to 46 weeks            after planting in a 14-cm (diameter) pot.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height (measured from soil, including inflorescence).—39.0            cm to 44.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—38.0 cm to 41.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Immature leaves.—Length: 13.0 cm to 16.0 cm. Width: 8.0 cm            to 9.0 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146B. Lower surface:            RHS 146C. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy,            leathery, and thin.        -   Mature leaves.—Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm to 20.0 cm.            Width: 10.0 cm to 11.0 cm. Shape: Ovate cordate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Leaf blade angle with the petiole:            Between 120 degrees and 130 degrees. Leaf margin: Entire.            Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146B.            Texture: Upper surface: Leathery and thick. Lower surface:            Glossy, leathery, and thick. Venation: Pinnate veining; the            mid-vein and primary veins (the veins that radiate out from            the junction of petiole and leaf) protrude at the underside            of the leaf blade. Venation color: Upper surface: RHS 144A.            Lower surface: RHS 144B.        -   Lobes.—Present. Arrangement: Leaf blade has two lobes            extending past the petiole. The lobes are non-touching.            Length of lobes of mature leaf blades: 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.            Width of lobes of mature leaf blades: 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm.            Distance from petiole/leaf junction to highest point on            lobes of mature leaf blades: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Petiole.—Cross-section: Round. Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.            Length: 18.0 cm to 21.0 cm for a mature leaf size. Color:            Mature leaf: RHS 144A. Immature leaf: RHS 144B. Cataphyll            color surrounding the petiole: Outside: RHS 144A with a hint            of purplish-red (RHS 59C) at the tip. Inside: RHS 144C.        -   Geniculum.—Length: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to            0.5 cm. Color: RHS 144B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Flowering habit (length of flowering season).—Continuous.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—6 to 8.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Longevity of inflorescence on plant.—Over a year.-   Spathe:    -   -   Buds.—The spathe is tightly rolled around the spadix and            extrudes from the peduncle sheath. After the spathe is fully            opened the peduncle elongates some extra centimeters.        -   Arrangement.—Spathe angle with the peduncle is between 140            degrees and 160 degrees; the spathe stands on a wiry            peduncle about 12.0 cm to 17.0 cm above the foliage.        -   Shape in cross section of middle zone.—Concave.        -   Shape.—Cordate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Texture.—Weakly blistered and medium glossy.        -   Margin.—Undulated.        -   Size.—Length: 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm. Width: 8.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Lobes.—Present. Arrangement: The spathe has two lobes            extending past the peduncle. The lobes are non-touching.            Length: 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Color.—Just fully open: Upper surface: RHS 46A. Lower            surface: RHS 46B. This deep red color remains for a very            long period, at least more than 30 weeks after opening. The            spathe turns green after some weeks.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Shape.—Erect.        -   Cross-section.—Round.        -   Length.—32.0 cm to 36.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144A.-   Flowering time:    -   -   General.—One small, rooted, untreated tissue culture plant            of 8.0 cm tall will flower, depending on the season, after            42 to 46 weeks and 6 to 7 blossoms appear. More blossoms            appear after some additional weeks so that a full flowering            and commercial plant will have 7 to 8 deep red spathes.            Smaller blossoms may occur on immature plants.-   Spadix:    -   -   Size.—Length: 4.0 cm to 4.5 cm (depending on flower size).            Width (at apex): 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm. Width (at base): 0.7 cm            to 0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Columnar.        -   Angle of spadix tip with peduncle.—170 degrees to 180            degrees.        -   Texture.—When the spathe is unfurling the spadix is smooth.            When the spadix matures, small stigmata protrude. The            stigmata are evenly distributed around the spadix. The            spadix matures from base to top, slowly giving the spadix a            somewhat rough appearance.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS N144C. Mature: RHS 155B. Ages to: RHS            144C.-   Flowers:    -   -   Quantity per spadix.—110 to 140.        -   Spadix flower arrangement.—Bisexual, rounded in            cross-section.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Size.—Length: 0.05 cm to 0.10 cm. Diameter (maximum): 0.10            cm.        -   Color.—RHS 155B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Not visible.        -   Pollen amount.—Absent.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 110 to 140. Length: Less than 0.01 cm.            Color: RHS 155B.        -   Style.—Not observed to date.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter: Less than 0.01 cm. Color:            RHS 155B.        -   Ovary.—Rarely visible.        -   Ovary color.—Not measured.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed to date-   Disease and pest resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens or pests common to Anthurium    under commercial conditions to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND SIMILAR COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘ANTHFUNCNI’ differs from the female parent plant ‘17519-08’(unpatented) in that ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ has deep red spathes, whereas‘17519-08’ has orange spathes. Additionally, ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ has a largerdistance for the petiole/leaf junction to highest point on lobes ofmature leaf blades than ‘17519-08’.

‘ANTHFUNCNI’ differs from the male parent plant ‘14999-1597’(unpatented) in that ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ has cordate spathes with weakblistering, whereas ‘14999-1597’ has orbicular-cordate spathes withmedium blistering.

‘ANTHFUNCNI’ differs from similar commercial variety ‘ANTHYTZEL’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 30,930) in that ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ has cordate spathes that arepositioned far above the leaves, and a spathe angle with the peduncle of140 degrees to 160 degrees, whereas ‘ANTHYTZEL’ has orbicular-cordatespathes that are positioned slightly above the leaves, and a spatheangle with the peduncle of 100 degrees to 120 degrees.

‘ANTHFUNCNI’ differs from similar variety ‘ANTHGERXAM’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 33,298) in that ‘ANTHFUNCNI’ has weakly blistered and medium glossy,cordate spathes and ovate-cordate leaves, whereas ‘ANTHGERXAM’ hasmedium blistered and weakly glossy, orbicular-cordate spathes andnarrowly cordate leaves.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Anthurium plant named‘ANTHFUNCNI’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.